Radio shielded ignition means



Oct. 20, 1942. w. J. SPENGLER RADIO SHIELDED IGNITION MEANS Filed March 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Wm 0. BY

$4M M ATI'QRNEY.

Oct. 20, 1942.

w. J. SPENG LER 2,299,714

RADIO SHIELDED IGNITION MEANS Filed March 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet/Z Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RADIO SHIELDED IGNITION MEANS Walter J. Spengler, Sidney, N. Y., asslgnor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application March 22, 1940, Serial No. 325,307

26 Claims.

This invention relates to ignition apparatus and more particularly to an ignition system for in ternal combustion engines and radio shielding means therefor whereby interference with radio reception is obviated.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide novel ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines and radio shielding therefor, whereby ignition failures are materially reduced and hence the safety of personnel and property, particularly in aircraft, is greatly enhanced, while costly operating delays occasioned by ignition troubles are substantially obviated.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the ignition system of an engine a novel combination of radio shielding harness with the current generating and distributing means.

Anotherobject is to provide a novelly constructed radio shielding harness for the ignition system of an internal combustion engine.

Still another object is to provide novel means in association with the ignition system of an internal combustion engine whereby chafing of the ignition wires due to vibration and the accumulation of moisture in any part of the apparatus are substantially eliminated.

A further objectis to provide a novel radio shielding harness having one or more ignition distributor blocks mounted therein.-

A still further object is to provide a novel combination comprising an internal combustion engine, magneto, ignition distributor, and shielding harness whereby flexible and adjustable connections between the magneto casing on the one hand and the engine casing and harness on the other hand are substantially obviated.

Another object is to provide a novel combination of the above character which may be mounted on an engine so that all parts thereof are readily accessible for inspection and repair.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with ing drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the invention, reference for this latter purpose being had appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, with parts broken the accompanyprimarily to the in cross-section (Fig. 4).

away and parts removed, ofone type of structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of. said structure with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, with parts broken away, taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 1: and l Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, with parts broken away, taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 1.

A single embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, by way of example, in the form of apparatus suitable for use on a 14- cylinder, dual-ignition aircraft engine of the radial type. The structure shown is adapted to be mounted on the front of such an engine whereby access to all of the parts thereof for removal, inspection, repair or other purpose isgreatly facilitated. Various units of the structure are rigidly connected together, thereby obviating ignition troubles and failures heretofore occasioned by constant engine vibration. The invention consists, in part, of the novel combination of an internal combustion engine I 0, only segments of which are shown, one or more magnetos ll, one or more ignition distributors I 2 (Fig. 3) and a radio shielding harness l3, some of which units or subcombinations thereof are in themselvesnovel, as will hereinafter appear. In general, the rotor of the magneto is driven by the engine through an adjustable coupling I4 and the current generated by the magneto is distributed by means of the distributor through conductors housed in the shielding harness and electrically connected with the engine spark plugs l5, only one of which is shown.

The novel shielding harness illustrated is adapted to be mounted, on the front and around the shaft of a radial type engine and preferably comprises a manifold ring l6 (Fig. 2) and a cover I I secured across the open face thereof by a plurality of set screws l8 or other suitable means, said manifold ring being substantially U-shaped Both the manifold ring and cover may be cast from light materials or may be fabricated in any other suitable manner known to the art. If desired, the tubular manifold maybe formed without a removable cover. Housed within manifold l6, I1 are a plurality of insulated ignitionconductors l9, each of which terminates in one of a plurality of .sockets 20' or otherwise suittion comprehends a novel combination of these units. In the particular form shown which is adapted for use on a dual ignition engine having two sources of current supply,-a pair of circumierentially spaced housing portions 26 for receiving distributor blocks are cast integrally with manifold ring l6, but may be otherwise suitably secured thereto. 24 forms, in effect, a part of the outer peripheral wall 01 manifold it, I! and communicates directly therewith. As best seen in Fig. 3, a distributor block 25 made of suitable insulating material slidably fits into housing portion 24 against an annular shoulder 26 therein and is held in place by a retaining-ring Zl which is, in turn,

secured to said housing portion by means of circumferentially spaced set screws 28 (Fig. 1).

Distributor block 25 may be constructed in any conventional manner but is preferably molded with internally threaded metallic tubes 29 (Fig. 3) circularly arranged therein, said tubes being adapted to threadedly receive terminal pins 30 and 3| for cooperation with the terminal of a rotatable distributor element 32, to be later described, and for connection with conductors IE, respectively. Molded in block 25 at the center thereof is a terminal member 33 to one end of which the high tension supply or incoming cable 34 is attached by a terminal screw 35. The other or right hand end of member 33, as viewed in Fig. 3, is recessed for slidably receiving a contact element 36 that is yieldably pressed toward the right by a coil spring 3'! for yielding engagement with rotary distributor element 32. The movement of element 36 by spring 31 is limited, when the distributor is disassembled, by an external flange on said element and a cooperating internal shoulder in the recess of member 33.

Slightly ofiset from the center oi block 25 in the inner or left hand face thereof is an insert or terminal 38 which is in line with an opening 39 in the back of housing portion 24 and is connected to a metallic ring ill that is also molded in said block and extends beyond the outer face thereof for cooperation with a suitable contact (not shown) on rotary distributor e1ement'32, said contact being connected to the input side of a condenser 51 to be later described. A socket comprising a bushing ii and a rigid insulating sleeve 52 is provided for receiving an insulated Each of the housing portions the shielding harness.

conductor 43 for connecting insert 38 and hence ring 40 to a booster magneto (not shown).

In order to prevent chafing of conductors i9 within shielding unit it, ll, 24 due to vibration thereof, to obviate the entrance or condensation of moisture in said unit, and to decrease the capacitance between the several conductors and the shielding unit, the entire space within the latter around the conductors and behind distributor blocks 25 is filled with a suitable insulating compound 44.. One dielectric substance which has been found to be suitable for this purpose is composed of a cashew-nut-shell oil product made in after appear.

accordance with the disclosures of U. S. Patents Nos. 1,725,797 and 1,838,077 and others issued to Mortimer T. Harvey. This product in liquid form having a viscosity comparable to S. A. E. No. 250 oil is mixed with a small quantity of formaldehyde or other suitable drying agent and introduced into the desired parts of the harness in any suitable manner, such as by vacuum or pressure. The filled harness'is then placed in an oven and heated for several hours at a temperature of approximately 120 to 150 F. until the compound is dry throughout. The drying is actually brought about by chemical reaction but is acceleratedby the application of heat. The dried compound, which is solid but of a soft, resilient nature, serves as an excellent dielectric, is not sticky and is not adversely affected by heat.

The above described shielding harness unit may be attached to the engine by any suitable means, such as brackets 45 (Fig. 2) which are preferably detachably secured to manifold ring it by screws 45. The outer ends of brackets 45 may be provided with lugs 47 adapted to be received by suitable brackets 38 (Fig. 1) on the engine casing and to threadedly receive a holding nut Q9. The unit is additionally held in place by attachment to the magneto casings in a manner to herein- If desired, the bolts extending through brackets t5 may be threaded into a tapped hole in the engine casing.

Rotary element 32 of distributor I2 is mounted within casing 50 (Fig. 3) of magneto H, the same being surrounded by an open-face portion 5! of said casing which is. adapted to register with the open face of housing portion 26, 2'! of Said housing portions 2%, 2i and Fat are detachably secured together by means of bolts 52 to form a continuous housing for distributor 25, 32 and so that the axis of rotation of element 32 is in alignmentwith the center of distributor block 25, i. e., the center of circularly arranged contacts 30, and hence in alignment 'with yieldable contact 35. If desired, housing portion 5! may be separate from the magneto casing, in which. event the distributor maybe driven directly from the engine and set at a different angle to the harness manifold.

As shown, the main body 53 of distributor finger 32 is molded from suitable dielectric material which has imbedded therein a center contact 5 3 and a contact carrying arm 55 which projects radially beyond the periphery thereof. Contact 5% is continuously yieldably engaged by a carbon element or brush in member 36. and arm 55 carries adjacent its outer end a contact or terminal 56 which successively moves to operative relation with contact pins 30 during rotation of finger 32 for a purpose well understood. in the art. Molded into finger 32 or otherwise mounted in a recess therein is a condenser 51, the opposite terminals of which are electrically connected to contact 54 and arm 55.

The assembled distributor finger is rigidly se cured to a shaft 58 for rotation therewith, said shaft being rotatably supported in suitable bearings 59 and 60. Intermediate said bearings, shaft 58 has mounted thereon a bevel gear Bl which meshes with a similar gear 62 on the vertically extending shaft of magneto rotor 63, thereby drivably connecting shaft 58 and the rotor.

The base of magneto casing 5b is preferably provided with a flange 64 whereby the same may be rigidly attached to the casing of engine It! by means of suitable bolts 55. Since the axis of rotation of the magneto rotor and distributor eleand , I ment 32 are at right, angles to one another since the magneto casing 50 is rigidly connected to both the'shielding harness and the casing of engine Ill, it is not possibleto make necessary timing adjustments in the customary manner by rotating the magneto casing and hence its stator relative to the magneto rotor and engine casing.

Novel means are accordingly provided for drivably connecting rotor 63 toflthe engine whereby very small angular adjustments between the driving and driven part may be made for the purpose of coordinating the magneto with the engine and obtaining proper timing of the sparks at the spark plugs in relation to the positions of the pistons in the engine cylinders.

In the form shown, saidadjustable driving connection M (Fig. 1) is mounted on a projecting portion 66 of the shaft of rotor 63 and comprises an externally splined sleeve 67, which is freely mounted on shaft 66, an internally splined sleeve 68 which is adapted to slide axially on said shaft, and an intermediate sleeve 89 which is freely mounted on the shaft and has an' unequal number of ratchet teeth on opposite endsthereof in engagement with cooperating ratchet teeth on the adjacent ends of sleeves 61 and 68. Sleeevs 61, 68 and 69 are normally held with the ratchet teeth thereon in mesh and hence in driving engagement by means of a nut threaded on to shaft 66. Sleeve 61 meshes with an internally splined driving member H which is driven by the crank-shaft of engine In through any suitable motion transmitting means comprising a gear 12 which meshes with gear teeth on the periphery of member II. necting means is specifically claimed and described in more detail in W. J. Spengler Patent No. 2,266,283, dated December 16, 1941. I

Magnetos II are provided with electrical outlets or sockets 13 and 14 in the sides thereof for receiving plug-in connectors attached to the ends of shielded cables 15 and 16 which are respectively adapted to connect the secondary winding of the magneto coil (not shown) with cable 34 through a socket 20 in the shielding harness (Fig. 2) and the primary winding thereof with ground through an ignition switch (not shown). Preferably each magneto has a pair of sockets 13, 14 on each side thereof and each distributor block is provided with two embedded contacts 38 for booster connections to thereby render the same distributor blocks available for either the left or right hand side of the harness. I In operation, rotors 63 of the magnetos l I (only one of which is shown) are driven by the engine through suitable driving connections including gear 12, member H and adjustable driving connection [4. The current generated by the magnetos in a manner well understood in the art is conducted from the secondary windings of the magneto coils through shielded cables 15 and cables 34 within the shielding harness to terminals 33, 36 and thence through terminals 54 and contact arms 55, 56 on distributor finger 32. The latter are rotatably driven in timed relation with rotors 63 through gears 62, 6| and shafts 58. During rotation of distributor fingers 32 high tension current from the magnetos flows from contacts 56 to the circularly arranged contacts on blocks 25 in predetermined succession and thence through conductors I9 and 22 to spark plugs l5. It will be understood that one magneto H is provided to supply the spark plugs now commonly placed in the front of the cylinders of a radial engine and that the other magneto sup- The foregoing adjustable conplies the plugs in the rear of the cylinders. In

order to properly coordinate the rotors of the magnetos with the crankshaft of the engine, any

necessary adjustment may be made at th'ecouplings I4.

There is thus provided a novel combination of the various units of a radio-shielded ignition system for an internal combustion engine whereby the rigidity" and durability of the entire system is materially enhanced, thereby reducing to a minimum the operating failures and troubles heretofore caused by engine vibration. The na- 1111:6501 the novel combination'is also such that the water-tightness of the system is-materially improved and such that a minimum number of parts are subjected to deterioration by reason of being in the proximity of heated parts of the engine. Additionally, the magneto and harness may be disconnected from one another without leaving any cables exposed to mistreatment and the number andlength of the high tension ignition leads is also greatly reduced, thereby decreasing the probability of ignition failures and minimizing electrical losses. There is also Drovided a novel radio-shielded ignition system, the major parts of which may be mounted on the front of a radial engine where the same are readily accessible at all times.

Although only a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail it is to be expressly understood that the same is not limited thereto but that various changes may be made therein, such as in the design and arrangement of parts illustrated, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. As an example, the distributor block housings may be secured to the shielding manifold so that the plane of the block is at a different angle to or even parallel with the axis of the engine. For a definition of the limits of the invention reference is had primarily to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a rigid tubular shielding manifold for ignition conductors and having spaced outlets for individual conductors, an open faced housing portion integral with said manifold, an ignition distributor block secured in said housing portion, and a plurality of ignition conductors in said manifold having electrical connection with contacts on said block within said housing portion.

2. In apparatus of ,the class described, a rigid tubular shielding manifold for ignition conductors and having spaced outlets for individual conductors, an open faced housing portion integral with said manifold, an ignition distributor block secured in said housing portion, a plurality of ignition conductors in said manifold having electrical connection with contacts on said block, and a dielectric material filling the space in said manifold and housing portion around said conductors.

3. In apparatus of the class described, radioshielding means comprising amanifold for a plurality of electrica'. conductors, said manifold having spaced outlets for individual conductors,

a source .of high tension electrical current, and

shielding means comprising a manifold for a plu-- rality of electrical conductors, said manifold having spaced outlets for individual conductors, a source of electrical current, a distributor for distributing high tension current from said. source to said conductors in predetermined successions, said distributor including an insulating block secured in an openfaced part of said manifold and having a plurality of circularly arranged contacts thereon electrically connected to said conductors and a terminal fientrally disposed with relation to said contacts, and means including conductor means engaging said terminal within said manifold and extending through one of said outlets for connecting said terminal to said source.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising a rigid metallic manifold for shielding a plurality of ignition conductors and having spaced outlets for individual conductors, a magneto casing, and ignition distributor including a distributor block mounted in and supported by an open-faced part of said manifold and an element rotatably mounted in said casing, means for rigidly securing said manifold and casing to each other with said element in cooperative relation with said block, and means for independently rigidly securing said manifold and casing to a common rigid base, such as an internal combustion engine, the

engaging surfaces of said manifold and casing and the engaging surfaces of said casing and engine being in non-parallel planes.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a radio-shielding manifold for electrical conductors of the ignition system of an engine, a. distributor block mounted in and supported by said manifold, a plurality of conductors in said manifold connected to terminals on said block, a casing, a distributor finger rotatably mounted in said casing and drivably connected to said engine, means for detachably interconnecting said casing and manifold with said block andfinger in cooperativerelation, and means for independent- 1y securing said manifold and casing to the casing of said engine, the engaging surfaces of said manifold and said first-named casing and the engaging surfaces of said first-named casing and said engine casing being in non-parallel planes.

7. In combination, a metallic radio-shielding manifold for a plurality of ignition conductors, said manifold having spaced outlets for individual conductors, a distributor block removably secured in said manifold, said block having spaced contacts thereon connected to said conductors within said manifold, a rotatable distributor element adapted to cooperate with said contacts, a metallic casing housing said element, and means for detachably securing said manifold and easing together with said contacts and element in cooperative relation with each other.

8. In combination, an internal combustion engine having a casing, a radio-shielding harness for the ignition conductors of said engine, a magneto having a casing secured to said engine casing,,means for drivably connecting the rotor of said magneto to said engine, said means including adjustable coupling means, a distributor block I mounted in said shielding harness, a distributor finger in the magneto casing, means for drivably connecting said finger and rotor, and means for detachably connecting said magneto casing and said harness whereby said block and finger are held in cooperative relation and completely housed.

- block secured in an open-faced part of said maniand said casing directly fold and a distributor finger rotatably mounted in said casing, means for interconnecting said manifold and casing to form a closed housing for said distributor with the parts of the latter in cooperative relation, and a drive shaft for said finger extending from said casing for operative engagement with an element .of said engine, the plane of the engaging surfaces of said casing and manifold being substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said shaft.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a radioshielding manifold for a plurality of ignition conductors, a magneto having a casing, an ignition distributor including a distributor block mounted in said manifold and having a central terminal and a plurality of terminals circularly arranged thereon, each of said terminals extending from one face of the block to the other and having connection with one of said conductors within the manifold, and a distributor finger rotatably mounted in said casing and having an axial terminal in contact with said central terminal and a terminal connected to said axial terminal dapted to successively cooperate with said circularly arranged terminals during rotation of said finger, means for connecting said central terminal to the output terminal of said magneto, and means for securing said casing and manifold to each other for forming a continuous housing for said distributor.

11. In combination, radio-shielding means including a rigid manifold for a plurality of ignition conductors, said manifold having spaced outlets in said block connected to said conductors at the inner face of the block, a rotatable distributor element having a terminal adapted to successively cooperate with said circularly arranged contacts at the outer face of said block, means for supplying electrical energy to said terminal, a metallic casing housing said element, and means for rigid ly securing the open-faced part of said manifold together to form a closed housing for said block and element.

12. In combination, a radio-shield manifold for a plurality of ignition conductors, said manifold having spaced outlets for individual conductors, a block of electric insulating material secured in an open-faced part of said manifold, a plurality of terminals extending through said block from one face thereof to the other, each of said terminals being connected at one end to one 'of said conductors, means for conducting electric current to said terminals at the other ends thereof in predetermined succession, and a dry, solid di-' electric material filling the space in said manifold around said conductors.

13. In combination, a radio-shielding harness comprising a manifold for a plurality of ignition conductors, said manifold having spaced outlets for individual conductors and an opening in one face thereof, a block of electrical insulating material mounted in and filling-said opening, means independently supported by said manifold for securing said block in position therein, a plurality of terminals molded in said block and extending ignition distributor block having a plurality of from one face to the other thereof, each of said terminals being connected to a different one of said conductors at the inner face of said block, and-means for conducting electrical current to said terminals at the outer face of said block in a predetermined succession.

14. In combination, a radio-shield manifold for a plurality of ignition conductors, said manifold having spaced outlets for individual conductors and an opening therein, an ignition ,distributor comprising a distributor block mounted in and filling said opening, means independently supported by said manifold adjacent said opening for securing said block in position in said manifold, a plurality of terminals in said distributor block, each of said terminals being connected to a different one of said conductors, and a dry, in said manifold around said conductors.

15. In combination, an internal combustion engine having a casing, a radio-shielding harness for the ignition-conductors of said engine, a magneto having a casing secured to said engine casing, means for drivably 'said magneto to said engine, said means including a member freely mounted on the rotor shaft, a member connected to the shaft for rotation therewith, and an element interposed between said members and having toothedengagement therewith, a distributor block mounted in said shielding harness, a distributor finger in the magneto casing, means for drivably connectingsaid finger and rotor, and means for detachably connecting said magneto casing to said harness whereby said block and finger are held in cooperative relation and are completely housed.

16. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a casing of radio-shielding means comprising a manifold for a plurality of ignition conductors of the engine, a magneto having a casing secured to said engine casing and a rotor rotatably mounted therein, means for drivably connecting said rotor to said engine, said means including an externally splined sleeve freely mounted on the rotor shaft, an internally splined sleeve mounted on said shaft for axial movement relative thereto, a sleeve freely mounted on said shaft intermediate said first and second-named sleeves and having toothed engagement therewith and means on the shaft for holding said sleeve in engagement, an ignition distributor, comprising: mounted in said manifold and a distributor finger rotatably mounted in said magneto casing, means for drivably connecting said finger and said rotor and means for detachably connecting said magneto casing and said harness whereby the distributor is completely housed and the parts thereof are held in cooperative relation.

17. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a casing of radio-shielding means comprising a manifold for a plurality of ignition conductors, a magneto having a casing secured to said engine casing, and means for securing said magneto casing directly to said manifold, the plane of the engaging surfaces of said magneto and'engine casings being at an angle to the plane of the engaging surfaces of said magneto casing and manifold.

18. Radio shielding means for the ignition system of an internal combustion engine comprising a manifold for ignition conductors having spaced outlets for individual conductors, a housing directly connected to said manifold and having direct internal communication therewith, an

connecting the rotor of solid dielectric material filling the space contacts thereon secured in said housing, and a plurality of conductors connected to said contactsand extending from said housing into said manifold.-

19. In apparatus of the class described, a radioshielding manifold for ignition conductors, an ignition distributor including a distributor block, an open-faced metallic housing for said distributbr necting said housing and manifold, the interior of said housing having direct communication with the interior of said manifold "and the conductors in said manifold being-connected to terminals on said block within said housing.

20. In apparatus of the class described, a radio shielding manifold for ignition conductors of an engine, said manifold having spaced outlets for individual conductors, an ignition distributor comprising a distributor block having spaced terminals thereon connected to said conductors a distributor block l and a rotatable distributor element adapted to cooperate with said terminals, an open-faced metallic housing for said distributor block rigidly interconnected with said manifold, a metallic casing housing said rotatable element, and means for rigidly interconnecting said casing and housing with said terminals and element in cooperative relation with each other.

21. In apparatus of the class described, a radio-shielding manifold for ignition conductors of an internal combustion engine, said manifold having spaced outlets for individual conductors, a metallic housing directly connected to said manifolc and having internal communication therewith, an ignition distributor comprising a plurality of circularly arranged terminals mounted in and electrically insulated from said housing and a rotatable element adapted to cooperate with said terminals, a plurality of conductors connected to said terminals and extending from said housing into said manifold, an open-faced casing for said element secured to said housing to form a closed space for said distributor, and means independent of said casing for securing said insulated terminals in said housing.

22. In apparatus of the class described, a rigid ring-like radio shielding manifold for ignition conductors, a plurality of open-faced metallic housing portions directly connected to said manifold, a distributor block mounted in each of said housing portions, and means for securing said blocks in position in said housing portions, the interior of the latter having direct communication With the interior of said manifold and the conductors in said manifold being connected to terminals on said blocks within said housing portions.

23. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a casing of radio shielding means comprising a, manifold for a plurality of ignition conductors, a distributor block mounted in said manifold, a housing for the rotatable element of a distributor secured tosaid engine casing, and means for securing said housing directly to said manifold, the plane of the engaging surfaces of said housing and casing being at an angle to the plane of the engaging surblock, and means for rigidly intercon plugs by electrical conductors and a movable contact element electrically connected to said source and operatively associated with said stationary terminals, a rigid metallic radio shielding manifold for at least portions of a plurality of said electrical conductors, and at least one rigid metallic housing for. said stationary terminals rigidly interconnected with said manifold and having direct communication with the interior thereof, whereby said conductors may extend from said manifold directly into said housing for connection to the inner ends of said stationary terminals.

25. In apparatus for radio-shielding the ignition system of an internal combustion engine wherein electrical energy-from a source of such energy is distributed to the spark plugs of an engine by a distributor comprising a plurality of insulated stationary terminals connected to spark plugs by electrical conductors and a movable contact element electrically connected to said source and operatively associated with said stationary terminals, a metallic radio shielding manifold having spaced outlets, and a metallic housing for said stationary terminals rigidly interconnected with said manifold and having direct communication with the interior thereof, whereby said conductors may extend from said terminals through the interior of said housing and manifold to said outlets.

26. In radio shielding means for an' ignition system embodying an ignition distributor having a plurality of stationary insulated terminals, a radio shielding manifold for ignition conductors, and a metallic housing for said distributor terminals rigidly interconnected with said manifold, the interior of said housing having direct communication with the interior of said manifold, whereby said ignition conductors may extend from said manifold directly into said housing for connection with said distributor terminals.

- WALTER J. SPENGLER. 

